Range cooker vs built in ovens

[4yearsnosleep]

Evening. We're currently planning our new kitchen and I'm torn between a range cooker with induction hob or built in, eye level double ovens, possibly with the hob on the island.

Anyone have both? Pros & cons of each? Thank you

Our kitchen has so many awkward bits that a range was definitely the way to go. Try both in your design and see what works best. We have the sink in the island - I wouldn't want the hob there because of mess and extractor issues.

Ours is a fairly straightforward rectangle! I think if I don't have a hob in the island, I'll just keep it clear for food prep and baking! I like my sink by the window to the garden:)

I looked at this and decided that unless you go for a very good/expensive range (and even sometimes then) the range ovens aren't as good as a similarly priced built in ovens. I'm sure someone will be along with an exception to that but I like my neff ovens and decided to get two and a hob and build my own range!

Range ovens look nice. That's about it. I won't buy another one again

I love our induction range. We calculated that it saved sufficient money on the quartz worktops that it was cost neutral or cheaper than hob and ovens (smaller run of worktop, rather than larger run + hole).

Love my induction range! Tis fab. Original plan was for eye level double oven but it wouldn't work in our plan. Have sink in island and also love this!

I think range ovens were a bit of a fad, which is now waning. Built-in ovens are so much more practical. Why would you want to have to squat on floor to get hot containers out of the oven, when you could have an oven at waist level?

I too love our induction range.

We have built in ovens - one full size single and one microwave/oven combi below. Then a separate induction hob. I love the ovens, don't regret not having a range at all. It's so much easier to get things out of the oven without having to bend down.

One watch out though - we have worktop next to the ovens so I can put hot dishes from the oven straight onto it. A friend had her kitchen done and put the ovens in a wall of cupboards (think it's called a 'tall wall'). Looks lovely but means there's nowhere next to the oven to put things so she has to turn round and put them the other side of the kitchen. Always seems a bit awkward and dangerous to me, especially with children around.

I got rid of our range as soon as I could. Hated the thing.
Far too easy for kids to hurt themselves as it got hot, the dog had her face in whatever you'd cooked the minute the door was open...

I now have two full sized neff ovens in the wall and have never been happier! Plus a huge hob and three lovely drawers under it for pans etc.

Love my range too. Find it easy getting stuff out of the oven

I've never met anyone who actually uses all the hobs on a range cooker, especially if you use a steamer for veg. Does anyone here?

Yes - but does it matter if you don't? Ours has five rings, three different sizes. It's really versatile. I often cook veg in the microwave. It is great not to have to juggle things around in order to produce a meal. After years with a Neff single oven with the grill inside, it is a pleasure to be able to have a separate oven and grill and two ovens.

You can have a range cooker and a tall oven too you know ! If you love to cook and need more oven space this can work for some people ! It's YOUR Kitchen, have what works for you !

I have two built in ovens and one has a grill. I also have a built in combi microwave. Separate induction hob. I always rather dislike range cookers that don't look streamlined and all that bending down! Plus my Dsis has one that's always yuk! They seem old fashioned and make a statement but not sure how practical they are. Some feel very flimsy too.

We have had both and now have two full sized built in ovens at eye level and hob on the island. It is so much better. Eye level is the way to go.

I also love my range cooler. I have 6 rings and do use them all, occasionally. I do live in a very house and a range suits it. I couldn't imagine an induction hob looking right at all.

And the poster who said they are a "fad", no they aren't, they've been popular for decades.

One thing to consider with a range is the worktop; you have to butt it up to the sides rather than have the hob dropped in, so it's less of a streamlined look if that's important to you DH has just cut our new worktop about 5mm shy and I could cry.

I second that about the fitting. Ours is inherited from the previous owners of the house and there's about a 5mm gap either side. Doesn't bother me to look at but when we had to pull the cooker out to fix it, the bits of dropped food and dirt was disgusting.

It weighs a ton. It's chained to the wall behind. It's got seven rings, including a fish kettle ring, and it's gas so each ring has about four removeable bits of metal that all need cleaning. It's brushed steel which shows every bloody mark. I do love the look of it though. It sits in a huge fireplace with a beautiful wooden mantelpiece round it. It is a total pain in the arse having to get down on the floor to get heavy dishes in and out but I just don't like the look of eye level cookers. They're just so practical though.

Most guidelines for installation of range cookers say to leave 5mm left and right ! I always leave a min of 10mm overall too, unless I know the specific model - then I read and adhere to the instructions when designing someone's kitchen !

I know what you're saying OnePlan - we have the required gap for the units but for some reason the worktop is a bit shy of that, something to do with screes sticking out either side, says DH. Will probably put some dark caulk in and try to ignore it < weeps >

Screws not screes.

I would never have a low oven as I like to be able to lift stuff out without bending! We have 1 neff slide and hide which is fantastic as you can reach right in and 1 neff cobi microwave next to it with a warming drawer underneath which is used all the time.

If you're even planning on moving you can take your range cooker with you...

*ever!